TODAY, GOVERNOR TODAY, GOVERNOR LEPAGE IS DEFENDING THE ACTIONS THAT EARNED HIM A REPRIMAND FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK. LEPAGE SAYS HE WOULD CALL STATE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICERS TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION AGAIN - EVEN AFTER THE FEDS WARNED HIM YESTERDAY NOT TO. W-M-T-W NEWS EIGHT POLITICAL REPORTER PAUL MERRILL SPOKE WITH THE GOVERNOR IN ROCKPORT TODAY. GOVERNOR LEPAGE SAYS HE DOES NOT REGRET HOSTING A BLAINE HOUSE MEETING IN MARCH 2013 THAT PROMPTED A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION. THE RESULTS OF THAT INQUIRY - A WARNING FOR HIM NOT TO MEDDLE WITH STATE UNEMPLOYMENT HEARING OFFICERS. 20:45:30-20:45:32 Paul Merrill/WMTW News 8: "Would you have a meeting like that again?" Gov. Paul LePage/ Maine: "Yes. Absolutely." SOME HEARING OFFICERS FELT THEY WERE BEING PRESSURED TO SIDE MORE OFTEN WITH BUSINESSES THAN WITH WORKERS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. 20:44:09- 20:44:20 Gov. Paul LePage/ Maine: "The thing that's been mis- characterized by all of you folks is this: I didn't go there supporting the employer. I went into that meeting supporting the employee." 20:45:12-20:45:29 Paul Merrill/WMTW News 8: "The feds will say that it's inappropriate to have that meeting no matter whose side your own or no matter what you mean by it. Just for you to be there is not right." Gov. Paul LePage/ Maine: "Let the feds run the federal government because, right now, they've been so inconsistent in Washington over the last four years that their favorite color is plaid." LEPAGE'S OWN LABOR DEPARTMENT CHARACTERIZED THE FEDERAL PROBE AS "NON-PARTISAN," THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE LETTER HE GOT YESTERDAY IS ANYTHING BUT. 20:43:44-20:43:51 Gov. Paul LePage/ Maine: "Do not forget it's an election year, because that document is pure election year rhetoric." DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR TROY JACKSON SAYS HE THINKS THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS ARE ACTIONS THAT COULD GET A GOVERNOR IMPEACHED. 20:50:56- 20:51:09 Sen. Troy Jackson/ Majority Leader: "There was this thing that, well, Obama is doing this. It's an election year. It's Obama. No Governor, what was happened was that you did something that was wrong. You tried to intimidate people that were under you and that's wrong." WHILE HE DID DISCUSS THE LABOR DEPARTMENT ISSUE, THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE LATEST MEDICAID BILL UNVEILED BY REPUBLICANS ON TUESDAY. 20:45:51- 20:45:54 Gov. Paul LePage/ Maine: "I wasn't here, so I don't know what went on. I have no idea." THIS - AFTER MEMBERS OF HIS CABINET JOINED TOGETHER IN HIS OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY TO OPPOSE THE BILL. IN ROCKPORT, PAUL MERRILL, W-M-T-W NEWS EIGHT.